A NOVEL HAPPENING.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17944, 1 May 1928, Page 9

A NOVEL HAPPENING.

BOROUGH COUNCIL BREAKS NEW GROUND.

MR G. T. KOLLER CLAIMS PRIVILEGE. '

At the conclusion of the ordinary Business of the, Timaru Borough Council last evening an incident of a novel nature happened—one of a kind which so far as is known, is without precedent in the history of the Council. . Five ratepayers had occupied the seats provided for the public, all the evening, listening to the Council’s business, apparently in the hope that something of a “spicy” nature would crop up. The Council’s ordinary ' business was' got through, - however, ."without anything of this nature making itself manifest. At nine o’clock, item No. 12 on the agenda was ' Reached. It read‘‘That the Council now go into committee.” ' One of the audience had left prior to this, and-three of the remaining four left immediately the Council reached its decision to go into committee.* Then name a question as to whether the Press men should remain,

and the Council unanimously decided that there was no reason why the representatives of the Press should retire, provided.- > they did not publish . what was said. ' Several Councillors . added that there was no likelihood of ' that' happening, as the Press representatives in-the past had -, always proved worthy-, of the Council’s fullest . confidence. • . This decision' apparently did not meet with the approval., of Alp G. T. Koller, who was/the only onlooker who had not left,the chamber on the Countfl’s resolve, to go into Committee. Rising fropi.'his sent, and addressing , the Mayor, .Mr Koller said: “May I he permitted, Mr Mayor, to. say a Word. .The 1 ; representatives of the, Press, it seems, are to he allowed to / ' remain "in the room while your in-. I committee business is being done: _ If they are to'remain, I. claim the right ~ .to remain also. I claim to be as honourable a citizen as the representatives of the Press, and if they are allowed to remain,-1 Claim that Tight also.” The Mayor I'told Mr Koller that he was mistaken,' and that he had no tight to remain when, the Council went - into committee. With regard to the

. representative* of the Press, the Mayor ’ said: “I must say they report us exceedingly well, and have never on any occasion given l cause for complaint,; • but there is a principle in/the,matter, and. I think, when the Council goes Into committee, it is .best perhaps for the Press representatives to retire, as in the event of there being any leakage'they may he blamed, and- if they are not there, no possible blame can attach to them.” At this stage, the representatives of , ’the Press informed the. Mayor that they were’prepared to do whatever the Council wished. • They had no wish to reinain'-wHen there was Ho work for them to do.-, k -k : The Mayor then stated that'if the Presa representatives : chose to retire, they were'at liberty to go into the adjoining room, which was heated, and where they-would be comfortable. _ Councillor J-Satterthwaite .said that he could -see no reason whatever why the PrOM "'representatives should retire; they And never yet been guilty of'publishing * anything ■ the Council had asked- -them not -to publish; and there was -no reason. to suppose that they would.'betray the Council's'-con-fidence in: the future. ■. Councillor Vinnell said that while he • had every confidence in the Press, and no disrespect whatever for them, he felt, bounflaito. agree with what tne Mayor had.-s.aid, that, as a matter of principlefj.when the Council went into committee, everybody excenb Councillors should retire. The Presa representatives were honourable men, who - were to be fully trusted, but they should not b©-placed in an emharassing position by— remaining to hear 1 the Council’s in-committee business. . At this stage, the Press tires gathered up their papers and rose to leave the room, but Mr Koller, - apparently not satisfied, rose again / from his ’seat, and addressing the Mayor in stentorian tones.exclaimed: »‘I claim -the privilege of being the last :■ man to leave the room.” The Mayor and Councillors paid no heed to this remark, but the Press representatives saw to it that Mr Roller’s wish was not_ gratified, both pressmeiK-present leaving the Council Chambers after-Mr Koller.